The National tribune., 1887-11-03

rival from Florida. he astonshed me by re-
marlsang: Is this g0u? There's been lots OF
talking over this wire about you lately"
Then he told me Of the newspaper stories OF
my Florida experiences, and Oi my supposed
ignoble death by the rope
Mr.. Porter soon put me IN possession OF
wire, and j opened communication al once
with an operator nearest my home. inns
operator, who was an old friend, told me
alterwBrd that NJ the mpmtnt j sounded ior
his Office he was sitting reading newspaper
account of me. which stated that our officers
had replied TO the rebel demand Tor nay per
son, that they lthe Union oiiceIs) INTENDED
90
HANG MI THEMSELVES,
and that when my signal came he recognized
the touch OF the key before j had given my
name, and felt a. though he was receiving
message from the dead.
j noticed at the time that when sgnaled
al am . K,'n my telegiaphic signature
that the answer came back nervously, nut
be told me he was Gibson, and we went
ahead Tor an hour or more. told him oi
my adventures and arrival in New York,
aud seat long messages 10 my iather ana my
sWeeihCari.
~ j Ma ABOUT 10 iGdhG Alit Univ III -
Ter sug- sstoG that as my work IN the Souln
had bcon 50 grossly mlsrepresented, u Was
due 90 myself 10 have the New York papers
print nv own story, and an arrangement
was made 20 meet him AT night and make
tour OF the newspaper offices.
That morning ] went to Mr.. Beechers
church, in Brooklyn, where ! sal IN the
crowded gallery; bat had not yet been long
enough on shore, and the church rocked AID
reeled about so that i was obliged 10 clear
out
In the evening ] went with Mr.. Porter 10
the Herald Office, and thence to the Tribune,
and each paper on Monday morning told my
story anew under bold headlines. The 1rt6-
ane used war map with its article, but
mixed the batteries up so that j could not
understand the matter myself However, IL
satisfied the public, and for day
WAS A GREATER HERO
in New York than Lieut.. Semmer himself
or even the dead hero Ellsworth.
When got over 10 Philadelphia the next
day found myself in high favor, and my
application COR passes was honored at once,
ae though i were rightlully entitled 20 them.
/ should properly, as understand it now,
have reported mt once to the War Depart
ment, but was anxious to see my best girl,
and went FIRST 10 her.
She had not yet seen my supplementary
story in the New York papers, and her greet
ing was, Why, thought you were hung"
That remark hit me TO the heart and made
me feel bad but MS this is not a love story,
III pass along TO other matters.
had an elegant time at home with my
family and friends, and took DO thought OF
reporting TO Washington, until one day Sena-
TOR Andrew johnson passed through the
town on his way from Tennessee 10 the
Capital ] went to the depot with the
majority of the citizens, to see the eKiled
Southern Unionist. Up 10 that time bad
been forgeiful of my duty 10 let the War
Department know OF my movements, think
ing that The newspapers giving my own story
would be information enough, and had re-
manned wholly under the orders OF " my
dear little girl, y forgetting country and Sec
retaFy Cameron and my army ambition alike
while she nodded. / believe i remarked
before that this is not a love story, 80 j will
return.
When Senator johnson came through our
town boarded the car where he sat, and he
greeted me very kindly. / told him that
had not heard from the War Department
since leaving there in March-it was early
In June now, and he said: - You had better
come right along with me TO Washington.
You ought TO be there now. You might be
too late if you wait longer" A friend stand
ing by seconded the Senator's suggestion,
and so. when the train moved Off remained
on board and came TO the Capital. just
then the reign of terror had begun in Ten
nessee and the sturdy loyalist Senator had
been forced TO fee for his life But while he
was a hunted fugitive when south of the
Ohio River, his progress through the loyal
States en- route to Washington was right
royal one, although few dreamed then that
four years later he would be the Nations
Chief Executive officer
] bad mo- time to say Rood-by TO friends or
sweetheart, and went OFF as impulsiyely as
before, on a campaign that in effect lasted
until the end Of the war
ITO BE- continued